One arrested as KCCA closes Grand Imperial Hotel

KCCA's supervisor building management Mr. Were Moses Happy together with Police officers look at the hole that sunk during a conference on monday at Grand imperial's Didi's dinning hall. KCCA learnt on tuesday mmorning and later found out that they were even renovating without their approval. they later sealed off the area and closed it untill the Hotel management complies with the KCCA regulations. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE

By Farahani MukisaPosted
Tuesday, June 10
2014 at
15:34

In Summary

According to KCCA supervisor building management, Mr Were Moses, the onsite engineer Mr Badru Biyinsa did not notify KCCA before such a “risky renovation.”

Business at Grand Imperial hotel has this afternoon temporarily come to a standstill as Kampala Capital City Authority sealed it off after getting reports that a floor caved in, leaving the clients of the hotel in jeopardy.

By the time KCCA officers arrived at the scene, there were renovations taking place at the affected sections of the hotel that include the information centre and the dining (Didi’s) hall an act that KCCA enforcers say is illegal renovation.

According to KCCA supervisor building management, Mr Were Moses, the onsite engineer Mr Badru Biyinsa did not notify KCCA before such a “risky renovation.”

“It is very risky to renovate any building without notifying the authority. Supposing such fault on the hotel had been either on the first or the other floors and any accident happens, who would be blamed,” Mr Were wondered.

He explained that part of the affected hall will be sealed off as KCCA inspection team carries out the impact assessment of the whole building before it is granted full authority of the building.The onsite engineer Mr Biyinsa was authority arrested and taken for further interrogation for flouting the laws.

The Hotel management refused to comment about the development, however, Mr Biyinsa said: “I thought the renovation was just an interior floor reinforcement and could not attract the attention of the authority.”

Grand Imperial is a member of the imperial group of hotels, run by city business man Karim Hirji.